Cover photo/Daniel's acting abilities.

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> I'm gonna second Al on this one--Daniel Radcliffe doesn't =look= 
like 
> my Harry (nor does Rupert Grint look a thing like my Ron)*, but he 
> =acts= exactly right.  I think he's pretty serious, appropriately--
he 
> doesn't crack too many smiles in the trailer and seems to be 
> refreshingly understated, especially for a child actor> 

**"Understated" is high praise in my aesthetic.  It might help you to 
> know that Burt Lancaster is one of my favorite actors.

I totally agree with this.  Understated is equally high praise from 
me as well (I hate these really precocious child actors who 
don't "act" they "over emote" ) , and Daniel Radcliffe is 
understatement personified, from what I've seen.  I feel as though I 
can tell what he is thinking from minute changes in facial 
expression - and it means that when he does actually break into a 
smile/laugh, such as at the end of the first trailer, it is so much 
more effective.  Chris Columbus makes some comment about Dan 
Radcliffe bringing the depth needed to the role.  He says that they 
needed someone who could portray "a feeling that they had lived a 
life and were slightly haunted, slightly wounded."  As far as I can 
tell, he does this.

I watched him in David Copperfield again recently, and his 
performance in that had the same qualities, so I am hoping that he 
will be as good in HP.  Interesting that he's acting opposite Maggie 
Smith and Zoe Wanamaker again.

Catherine
BTW: It also says that a British critic was criticising the sets of 
the film for being too clean and not distressed enough.  Had they not 
heard of House Elves and Mrs Skower's All-Purpose Mess Remover etc???